Category: Uncategorised

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. Matthew 17:8

Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, had been on the mount of transfiguration with the Lord. Yet now these two men disappear from sight. The best of men are only men at their best. Who can be compared with the incomparable Lord? —John M.Clegg

Join all the glorious names,
Of wisdom, love and power;
That mortals ever knew,
That angels ever bore;
All are too mean to speak His worth,
Too mean to set our Saviour forth. —Isaac Watts

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

As the deer panteth for the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

Psalm 42 and 43 are plaintive cries from the depths of the heart. David was alone and longing for God during this time of spiritual drought. Count the “whys,” “whens,” and “wheres,” of the struggling psalmist. Psalm 42 was a great favourite of the early Christians who were hunted in the catacombs. Inscribed on those dark, damp walls are many deer, expressing that they too were in deep anguish, feeling forsaken, yet their hearts still beat with hope! Three times (42:5, 11; 43:5), David challenges his faith and cries “Hope in God.” Thank God we have a blessed hope. Perhaps today! —Jim Comte

O child of God, there is for thee a hope that shines amid the gloom,
A gladsome hope that you shall see thy Lord, for He will surely come. —T. D. W. Muir

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

My times are in thy hand. Psalm 31:15
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Psalm 23:4

How many times do we ask the question, “Does God care about me?” Or, “Where is God in the situation I am facing?” We know from His Word, that He is fully aware of our circumstances. Whether it is in our daily struggles or walking through the dark valley of death, He is with us. We are always, “near to the heart of God.” —Bob Cretney

There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God;
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God. —Cleland B. McAfee

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-11; Romans 6:1-14

Behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. Acts 5:28
These that have turned the world upside down. Acts 17:6

The enemies of Christ gave this testimony concerning the early believers. They not only filled Jerusalem with the doctrine of Christ but proclaimed a message which was contrary to all that the world accepted. Today, antagonism towards Christians and the gospel daily increases and whether the world listens or not, we must boldly proclaim God’s truth. To “[fill] Jerusalem with your doctrine” meant the apostles were thrown into prison (Acts 5:18). To “[turn] the world upside down” meant that Jason was dragged to the courts (Acts 17:6). We must also be prepared to suffer. —David Croudace

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee;
What hast thou borne for Me? —Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Romans 5:12-21

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. Psalm 22:6
Though your sins…be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Downtrodden, despised and the lowest of the low! Is it possible that our Lord could be so described? Only by Himself! Interestingly, the word for “worm” is the same as “crimson”—the word that is used to describe sins of deepest dye. By crushing the worm, a scarlet dye was obtained. Upon the cross, the Man of Sorrows, who knew no sin, was made sin for us and crushed beneath its judgment (Isa. 53:5, 10). May our love pour out to Him today! —Pete Smith

Crowned with thorns upon the tree, silent in Thine agony;
Dying, crushed beneath the load, of the wrath and curse of God. —Guiness

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Romans 4:23-5:11

They are like grass which groweth up…in the evening it is cut down. Psalm 90:5-6
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8

God was long-suffering when men lived long, but in the end they were like grass, grown up during the day, then cut down in the evening. God reduced man’s expected lifespan twice; first to 120 years in Genesis 6:3, then to 70 to 80 years in Psalm 90:10. In comparison, these shortened days are likened unto the dew upon the grass, which by midmorning is gone. It is the Word of the Lord, that endures forever and imparts wisdom. May we apply our hearts to it daily. —Tom Steere

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word, ’til soul and body sever:
For tho’ all things shall pass away, His Word shall stand forever. —Luther

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:32-18:5; Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 4:1-22

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

The word “endeavouring” contains the thought of being eager and striving earnestly with due diligence. We have constantly to be on our guard to prevent disunity amongst the saints. The first port of call is oneself. We must always be careful to ensure that we do not create problems. This sometimes means being prepared to take second place, especially if it is for the benefit of the local church and the furtherance of the Lord’s people and His work. —Brian Russell

Here everyone who loves Thy name,
Our willing hearts embrace;
Our life our hope our joy the same.
The same Thy love and grace. —Mary Peters

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9-57:21; Romans 3:1-31

I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. Jeremiah 25:3 

Jeremiah had the task of telling the people of Judah about forthcoming judgment if they continued in sin. He was not responsible for their response to his warning. We have the same burden today, and again, the response is up to the individual listener. We simply sow, water, cultivate, but God gives the increase. Thankfully we are not called upon to generate a response. We’re simply to be found faithful in proclaiming the Word. Are we? —W. H. G.

Sowing the precious seed, while the day is fast declining,
Sowing the precious seed, in the twilight dim;
Sowing the precious seed, neither doubting nor repining,
Leaving it all to God, trusting all to Him. —W. Ogden

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. John 7:37

The final day of the annual Feast of Tabernacles had come. For the crowds, the long trek home lay ahead. But the Lord Jesus was concerned about their ongoing spiritual needs. So, with upraised voice and earnest tones, He urged them to accept Him as the answer to their pressing need. “Come unto me,” He cried, “and drink.” What about you, dear reader? Remember, one day the last opportunity for each of us will come! —George Hall

I came to Jesus and I drank, of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul was saved, and now I live in Him. —Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 31:16
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6

What assurance for servants of the Lord. There may be times when we become discouraged because we are not seeing results, despite our earnest endeavours. It is not for us to be concerned about success. Ours is simply to obey the Master’s call and leave the results with Him. There may be times of weeping, but the Lord promises that we will “doubtless” come rejoicing in the day of reward. —W. H. Burnett

Labour on, labour on, keep the bright reward in view,
For the Master has said, He will strength renew. —Dr. C. R. Blackall